The concept of the archive in contemporary art has evolved from a static repository to a dynamic and creative device that not only preserves memory but also generates new narratives and critical reflections. Artist archives, which include diverse materialssuch as sketches, photographs, and letters, provide deep insight into the creative process and the artist’s identity. These archives are not merely tools for preservation but true "cultural ecosystems" that intertwine personal and collective dimensions, challenging traditional categories of time and space. They thus become tools of resistance and instruments for critiquing the art system, transcending the logic of the artwork as a consumable object. Through the selection and organization of materials, the artist constructs an archival self-portrait, shaped by political and social dynamics. Artist archives, therefore, reflect a dialogue between memory and oblivion, order and chaos, offering new perspectives for the future.
Archivi d’artista e pratiche contemporanee: tra auto rappresentazione, memoria e resistenza culturale / Annantonia Martorano. - In: OFFICINA. - ISSN 2764-7773. - ELETTRONICO. - (2026), pp. 1-21.
Archivi d’artista e pratiche contemporanee: tra auto rappresentazione, memoria e resistenza culturale
Annantonia Martorano
2026
Abstract
The concept of the archive in contemporary art has evolved from a static repository to a dynamic and creative device that not only preserves memory but also generates new narratives and critical reflections. Artist archives, which include diverse materialssuch as sketches, photographs, and letters, provide deep insight into the creative process and the artist’s identity. These archives are not merely tools for preservation but true "cultural ecosystems" that intertwine personal and collective dimensions, challenging traditional categories of time and space. They thus become tools of resistance and instruments for critiquing the art system, transcending the logic of the artwork as a consumable object. Through the selection and organization of materials, the artist constructs an archival self-portrait, shaped by political and social dynamics. Artist archives, therefore, reflect a dialogue between memory and oblivion, order and chaos, offering new perspectives for the future.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.



